Canadians savvy on privacy

Privacy concerns are driving Canadians away from smartphone apps and online services.

More than half of those surveyed in a poll commissioned by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada say they have uninstalled or chosen not to install an app because of the amount of personal information required, while 68 percent say they have chosen not to use a website or online service because they were uncomfortable with the terms of service.

“Canadians are beginning to realize that the various pieces of information they share online can reveal a lot about them, and can be used in ways they never intended,” said Jennifer Stoddart, privacy commissioner, when she released the results of a telephone survey of 1,513 Canadians.

Seventy percent of respondents said they felt more vulnerable than they did 10 years ago. Only 13 percent feel that businesses are serious about protecting personal information, while one in five believes the federal government is doing an adequate job of providing protection.